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LICENSING EXPO 2019 PREVIEW
With over 5,000 exhibiting brands and properties, the show floor at this year’s Licensing Expo will once again be packed to the rafters. LSB casts its eye over just some of what will be on display at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas from June 4-6.
Coming to America Below: SpongeBob Squarepants is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Absorbing brands SpongeBob Squarepants will be a key focus for Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products, with the brand marking its 20th anniversary this year. PAW Patrol continues to be a global powerhouse franchise, while Blue’s Clues – which is Nickelodeon’s first billion-dollar consumer products franchise - is being updated for today’s generation of kids with Blue’s Clues and You. The new series of Rise of the Teenage Mutant lays the groundwork to fuel the Turtles for years to come, Top Wing has already reached one million kids in the UK since its launch and social influencer JoJo Siwa remains as the number one live action licensed property in the US. The adult space will be represented with MTV, South Park and Paramount – notably, the MTV consumer products business is up more than 40%. Finally, VNCP will present theatrical tentpoles, including live-action Dora and the Lost City of Gold, original animated film, Monster on the Hill, hotly anticipated sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, and The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge. Booth O180
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2019
Inset: The SustainableMe zero waste tee is a tie-up with Teemill.
Bottom: Super Wings’ CP programme now covers a raft of major categories.
Great British brands
Following the success of Doctor Who series 11, the BBC Studios team is looking forward to talking to new and existing partners at the show. It has teamed up with Escape Hunt to launch Doctor Who: The Live Escape Game, while the first official VR game with Maze Theory will launch in the lead up to series 12. Meanwhile, this year has seen BBC Earth collaborate with sustainable fashion brand Mother of Pearl for London Fashion Week, later launching the SustainableMe zero waste t-shirt with Teemill and the ‘Our Blue Planet’ collection with People Tree. Finally, The Watch is a powerful new thriller inspired by Terry Pratchet’s legendary Discworld novels. Production is beginning soon and with a broad audience appeal, it will be a major focus this year. Booth N204
Flying high Alpha Group will be showcasing its upcoming developments on preschool hit, Super Wings. The property is continuing to grow with key licensees on board across major categories and also the news that it is airing on both Tiny Pop and Cartoonito in the UK and Eire. In addition, Alpha will also introduce new show Rev&Roll – which is co-produced with DHX and targets four to six year olds. The first international TV broadcast is due to begin from this autumn, the Alpha toy line will hit shelves in early 2020 and the consumer products programme will expand further in the second half of 2020. Booth R228